Piccadilly Palare

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“Piccadilly Palare”
Single by Morrissey
from the album Bona Drag (compilation)
Released 13th November 1989 (UK), 8th December 1989 (USA, Canada)
Format 7", 12", CD, cassette
Length 3:26
Label HMV (UK)
Writer(s) Morrissey/Kevin Armstrong
Producer Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley
Morrissey singles chronology
"November Spawned a Monster"
(1990)
"Piccadilly Palare"
(1990)
"Our Frank"
(1991)

"Piccadilly Palare" was a single released by Morrissey in October 1990.

Despite a reaching a disappointing number 18 on the British singles chart, "Piccadilly Palare" was a generally well received single, and the last release before Morrissey began a writing partnership with Mark Nevin.

As with "November Spawned a Monster", Morrissey chose to write about a subject unusual in pop music, namely male prostitution around the Piccadilly area of London. The title of the song refers to cant slang language polari, first used by male prostitutes in the 19th century and was then taken up by homosexuals in the 1960s to disguise sexual predilections which were illegal in the UK until 1967. It was also used in the BBC radio comedy Round the Horne by the characters Julian and Sandy.

The voice featured in the background of the song belongs to Suggs, the lead singer of the band Madness

There is an as yet unreleased version of the track, which includes the lyrics, "A cold water room, it's not much, I know, but for now it's where I belong. Am I really doing wrong? Around the centre of town, it's where I belong. Am I really doing wrong?"

Contents

[edit] Track listings

[edit] 7" vinyl & cassette

  1. "Piccadilly Palare"
  2. "Get Off The Stage"

[edit] 12" vinyl

  1. "Piccadilly Palare"
  2. "At Amber"
  3. "Get Off The Stage"

[edit] CD

  1. "Piccadilly Palare"
  2. "At Amber"
  3. "Get Off The Stage"
Country Record label Format Catalogue number Notes
UK HMV 7" vinyl POP1624
UK HMV 12" vinyl 12POP1624
UK HMV Compact disc CDPOP1624
UK HMV Cassette TCPOP1624

[edit] Reviews

Unlike Morrissey's previous two singles, the NME gave Piccadilly Palare a positive review, saying "It's amazing what a slap across the wrist can do for the creative juices."[1]

[edit] Musicians

  • Morrissey: Voice
  • Andy Rourke: Bass Guitar
  • Kevin Armstrong: Guitars
  • Andrew Paresi: Drums

[edit] Live Performances

The song was performed live by Morrissey on his 1991 tour.

[edit] References

  1. ^ NME Piccadilly Palare Review [1]

The song is referenced in The Libertines' song Dilly Boys which contains the chorus: "Me, I'm just a dilly boy / Fresh flower pressed Piccadilly boy / Hands on hips, pout on lips."

[edit] See also

[edit] External links